Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 4: “The Creation of the Fourth Order”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chapter One

SB4.1.17

TEXT 17

maitreya uvaca

brahmana coditah srstav

atrir brahma-vidam varah

saha patnya yayav rksam

kuladrim tapasi sthitah

SYNONYMS

maitreyah uvaca—Sri Maitreya Rsi said; brahmana—by Lord Brahma; coditah—being inspired; srstau—for creation; atrih—Atri; brahma-vidam—of the persons learned in spiritual knowledge; varah—the chief; saha—with; patnya—wife; yayau—went; rksam—to the mountain named Rksa; kula-adrim—great mountain; tapasi—for austerities; sthitah—remained.

TRANSLATION

Maitreya said: When Lord Brahma ordered Atri Muni to create generations after marrying Anasuya, Atri Muni and his wife went to perform severe austerities in the valley of the mountain known as Rksa.

SB4.1.18

TEXT 18

tasmin prasuna-stabaka-

palasasoka-kanane

varbhih sravadbhir udghuste

nirvindhyayah samantatah

SYNONYMS

tasmin—in that; prasuna-stabaka—bunches of flowers; palasapalasa trees; asokaasoka trees; kanane—in the forest garden; varbhih—by the waters; sravadbhih—flowing; udghuste—in sound; nirvindhyayah—of the River Nirvindhya; samantatah—everywhere.

TRANSLATION

In that mountain valley flows a river named Nirvindhya. On the bank of the river are many asoka trees and other plants full of palasa flowers, and there is always the sweet sound of water flowing from a waterfall. The husband and wife reached that beautiful place.

SB4.1.19

TEXT 19

pranayamena samyamya

mano varsa-satam munih

atisthad eka-padena

nirdvandvo ’nila-bhojanah

SYNONYMS

pranayamena—by practice of the breathing exercise; samyamya—controlling; manah—mind; varsa-satam—one hundred years; munih—the great sage; atisthat—remained there; eka-padena—standing on one leg; nirdvandvah—without duality; anila—air; bhojanah—eating.

TRANSLATION

There the great sage concentrated his mind by the yogic breathing exercises, and thereby controlling all attachment, he remained standing on one leg only, eating nothing but air, and stood there on one leg for one hundred years.

SB4.1.20

TEXT 20

saranam tam prapadye ’ham

ya eva jagad-isvarah

prajam atma-samam mahyam

prayacchatv iti cintayan

SYNONYMS

saranam—taking shelter; tam—unto Him; prapadye—surrender; aham—I; yah—one who; eva—certainly; jagat-isvarah—master of the universe; prajam—son; atma-samam—like Himself; mahyam—unto me; prayacchatu—let Him give; iti—thus; cintayan—thinking.

TRANSLATION

He was thinking: May the Lord of the universe, of whom I have taken shelter, kindly he pleased to offer me a son exactly like Him.

PURPORT

It appears that the great sage Atri Muni had no specific idea of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Of course, he must have been conversant with the Vedic information that there is a Supreme Personality of Godhead who is the creator of the universe, from whom everything emanated, who maintains this created manifestation, and in whom the entire manifestation is conserved after dissolution. Yato va imani bhutani (Taittiriya Upanisad 3.1.1). The Vedic mantras give us information of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, so Atri Muni concentrated his mind upon that Supreme Personality of Godhead, even without knowing His name, just to beg from Him a child exactly on His level. This kind of devotional service, in which knowledge of God’s name is lacking, is also described in Bhagavad-gita where the Lord says that four kinds of men with backgrounds of pious activities come to Him asking for what they need. Atri Muni wanted a son exactly like the Lord, and therefore he is not supposed to have been a pure devotee, because he had a desire to be fulfilled, and that desire was material. Although he wanted a son exactly like the Supreme Personality of Godhead, this desire was material because he did not want the Personality of Godhead Himself, but only a child exactly like Him. If he had desired the Supreme Personality of Godhead as his child, he would have been completely free of material desires because he would have wanted the Supreme Absolute Truth, but because he wanted a similar child, his desire was material. Thus Atri Muni cannot be counted among the pure devotees.

SB4.1.21

TEXT 21

tapyamanam tri-bhuvanam

pranayamaidhasagnina

nirgatena muner murdhnah

samiksya prabhavas trayah

SYNONYMS

tapyamanam—while practicing austerities; tri-bhuvanam—the three worlds; pranayama—practice by breathing exercise; edhasa—fuel; agnina—by the fire; nirgatena—issuing out; muneh—of the great sage; murdhnah—the top of the head; samiksya—looking over; prabhavah trayah—the three great gods (Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara).

TRANSLATION

While Atri Muni was engaged in these severe austerities, a blazing fire came out of his head by virtue of his breathing exercise, and that fire was seen by the three principal deities of the three worlds.

PURPORT

According to Srila Jiva Gosvami, the fire of pranayama is mental satisfaction. That fire was perceived by the Supersoul, Visnu, and thereby Lord Brahma and Siva also perceived it. Atri Muni, by his breathing exercise, concentrated on the Supersoul, or the Lord of the universe. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita, the Lord of the universe is Vasudeva (vasudevah sarvam iti [Bg. 7.19]), and, by the direction of Vasudeva, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva work. Therefore, on the direction of Vasudeva, both Lord Brahma and Lord Siva perceived the severe penance adopted by Atri Muni, and thus they were pleased to come down, as stated in the next verse.

SB4.1.22

TEXT 22

apsaro-muni-gandharva-

siddha-vidyadharoragaih

vitayamana-yasasas

tad-asrama-padam yayuh

SYNONYMS

apsarah—heavenly society women; muni—great sages; gandharva—inhabitants of the Gandharva planet; siddha—of Siddhaloka; vidyadhara—other demigods; uragaih—the inhabitants of Nagaloka; vitayamana—being spread; yasasah—fame, reputation; tat—his; asrama-padam—hermitage; yayuh—went.

TRANSLATION

At that time, the three deities approached the hermitage of Atri Muni, accompanied by the denizens of the heavenly planets, such as the celestial beauties, the Gandharvas, the Siddhas, the Vidyadharas and the Nagas. Thus they entered the asrama of the great sage, who had become famous by his austerities.

PURPORT

It is advised in the Vedic literatures that one should take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the Lord of the universe and the master of creation, maintenance and dissolution. He is known as the Supersoul, and when one worships the Supersoul, all other deities, such as Brahma and Siva, appear with Lord Visnu because they are directed by the Supersoul.

SB4.1.23

TEXT 23

tat-pradurbhava-samyoga-

vidyotita-mana munih

uttisthann eka-padena

dadarsa vibudharsabhan

SYNONYMS

tat—their; pradurbhava—appearance; samyoga—simultaneously; vidyotita—enlightened; manah—in the mind; munih—the great sage; uttisthan—being awakened; eka-padena—even on one leg; dadarsa—saw; vibudha—demigods; rsabhan—the great personalities.

TRANSLATION

The sage was standing on one leg, but as soon as he saw that the three deities had appeared before him, he was so pleased to see them all together that despite great difficulty he approached them on one leg.

SB4.1.24

TEXT 24

pranamya dandavad bhumav

upatasthe ’rhananjalih

vrsa-hamsa-suparna-sthan

svaih svais cihnais ca cihnitan

SYNONYMS

pranamya—offering obeisances; danda-vat—like a rod; bhumau—ground; upatasthe—fell down; arhana—all paraphernalia for worship; anjalih—folded hands; vrsa—bull; hamsa—swan; suparna—the Garuda bird; sthan—situated; svaih—own; svaih—own; cihnaih—by symbols; ca—and; cihnitan—being recognized.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter he began to offer prayers to the three deities, who were seated on different carriers—a bull, a swan and Garuda—and who held in their hands a drum, kusa grass and a discus. The sage offered them his respects by falling down like a stick.

PURPORT

Danda means “a long rod,” and vat means “like.” Before a superior, one has to fall down on the ground just like a stick, and this sort of offering of respect is called dandavat. Atri Rsi offered his respect to the three deities in that way. They were identified by their different carriers and different symbolic representations. In that connection it is stated here that Lord Visnu was sitting on Garuda, a big aquiline bird, and was carrying in His hand a disc, Brahma was sitting on a swan and had in his hand kusa grass, and Lord Siva was sitting on a bull and carrying in his hand a small drum called a damaru. Atri Rsi recognized them by their symbolic representations and different carriers, and thus he offered them prayers and respects.

SB4.1.25

TEXT 25

krpavalokena hasad-

vadanenopalambhitan

tad-rocisa pratihate

nimilya munir aksini

SYNONYMS

krpa-avalokena—glancing with mercy; hasat—smiling; vadanena—with faces; upalambhitan—appearing very much satisfied; tat—their; rocisa—by the glaring effulgence; pratihate—being dazzled; nimilya—closing; munih—the sage; aksini—his eyes.

TRANSLATION

Atri Muni was greatly pleased to see that the three devas were gracious towards him. His eyes were dazzled by the effulgence of their bodies, and therefore he closed his eyes for the time being.

PURPORT

Since the deities were smiling, he could understand that they were pleased with him. Their glaring bodily effulgence was intolerable to his eyes, so he closed them for the time being.

SB4.1.26-27

TEXTS 26–27

cetas tat-pravanam yunjann

astavit samhatanjalih

slaksnaya suktaya vaca

sarva-loka-gariyasah

atrir uvaca

visvodbhava-sthiti-layesu vibhajyamanair

maya-gunair anuyugam vigrhita-dehah

te brahma-visnu-girisah pranato ’smy aham vas

tebhyah ka eva bhavatam ma ihopahutah

SYNONYMS

cetah—heart; tat-pravanam—fixing on them; yunjan—making; astavit—offered prayers; samhata-anjalih—with folded hands; slaksnaya—ecstatic; suktaya—prayers; vaca—words; sarva-loka—all over the world; gariyasah—honorable; atrih uvaca—Atri said; visva—the universe; udbhava—creation; sthiti—maintenance; layesu—in destruction; vibhajyamanaih—being divided; maya-gunaih—by the external modes of nature; anuyugam—according to different millenniums; vigrhita—accepted; dehah—bodies; te—they; brahma—Lord Brahma; visnu—Lord Visnu; girisah—Lord Siva; pranatah—bowed; asmi—am; aham—I; vah—unto you; tebhyah—from them; kah—who; eva—certainly; bhavatam—of you; me—by me; iha—here; upahutah—called for.

TRANSLATION

But since his heart was already attracted by the deities, somehow or other he gathered his senses, and with folded hands and sweet words he began to offer prayers to the predominating deities of the universe. The great sage Atri said: O Lord Brahma, Lord Visnu and Lord Siva, you have divided yourself into three bodies by accepting the three modes of material nature, as you do in every millennium for the creation, maintenance and dissolution of the cosmic manifestation. I offer my respectful obeisances unto all of you and beg to inquire whom of you three I have called by my prayer.

PURPORT

Atri Rsi called for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, jagad-isvara, the Lord of the universe. The Lord must exist before the creation, otherwise how could He be its Lord? If someone constructs a big building, this indicates that he must have existed before the building was constructed. Therefore the Supreme Lord, the creator of the universe, must be transcendental to the material modes of nature. But it is known that Visnu takes charge of the mode of goodness, Brahma takes charge of the mode of passion, and Lord Siva takes charge of the mode of ignorance. Therefore Atri Muni said, “That jagad-isvara, the Lord of the universe, must be one of you, but since three of you have appeared, I cannot recognize whom I have called. You are all so kind. Please let me know who is actually jagad-isvara, the Lord of the universe.” In fact, Atri Rsi was doubtful about the constitutional position of the Supreme Lord, Visnu, but he was quite certain that the Lord of the universe cannot be one of the creatures created by maya. His very inquiry about whom he had called indicates that he was in doubt about the constitutional position of the Lord. Therefore he prayed to all three, “Kindly let me know who is the transcendental Lord of the universe.” He was certain, of course, that not all of them could he the Lord, but the Lord of the universe was one of the three.

SB4.1.28

TEXT 28

eko mayeha bhagavan vividha-pradhanais

citti-krtah prajananaya katham nu yuyam

atragatas tanu-bhrtam manaso ’pi durad

bruta prasidata mahan iha vismayo me

SYNONYMS

ekah—one; maya—by me; iha—here; bhagavan—great personality; vividha—various; pradhanaih—by paraphernalia; citti-krtah—fixed in mind; prajananaya—for begetting a child; katham—why; nu—however; yuyam—all of you; atra—here; agatah—appeared; tanu-bhrtam—of the embodied; manasah—the minds; api—although; durat—from far beyond; bruta—kindly explain; prasidata—being merciful to me; mahan—very great; iha—this; vismayah—doubt; me—of mine.

TRANSLATION

I called for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, desiring a son like Him, and I thought of Him only. But although He is far beyond the mental speculation of man, all three of you have come here. Kindly let me know how you have come, for I am greatly bewildered about this.

PURPORT

Atri Muni was confidently aware that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Lord of the universe, so he prayed for the one Supreme Lord. He was surprised, therefore, that three of them appeared.

SB4.1.29

TEXT 29

maitreya uvaca

iti tasya vacah srutva

trayas te vibudharsabhah

pratyahuh slaksnaya vaca

prahasya tam rsim prabho

SYNONYMS

maitreyah uvaca—the sage Maitreya said; iti—thus; tasya—his; vacah—words; srutva—after hearing; trayah te—all three; vibudha—demigods; rsabhah—chiefs; pratyahuh—replied; slaksnaya—gentle; vaca—voices; prahasya—smiling; tam—unto him; rsim—the great sage; prabho—O mighty one.

TRANSLATION

The great sage Maitreya continued: Upon hearing Atri Muni speak in that way, the three great deities smiled, and they replied in the following sweet words.

SB4.1.30

TEXT 30

deva ucuh

yatha krtas te sankalpo

bhavyam tenaiva nanyatha

sat-sankalpasya te brahman

yad vai dhyayati te vayam

SYNONYMS

devah ucuh—the demigods replied; yatha—as; krtah—done; te—by you; sankalpah—determination; bhavyam—to be done; tena eva—by that; na anyatha—not otherwise; sat-sankalpasya—one whose determination is never lost; te—of you; brahman—O dear brahmana; yat—that which; vai—certainly; dhyayati—meditating; te—all of them; vayam—we are.

TRANSLATION

The three deities told Atri Muni: Dear brahmana, you are perfect in your determination, and therefore as you have decided, so it will happen; it will not happen otherwise. We are all the same person upon whom you were meditating, and therefore we have all come to you.

PURPORT

Atri Muni unspecifically thought of the Personality of Godhead, the Lord of the universe, although he had no clear idea of the Lord of the universe nor of His specific form. Maha-Visnu, from whose breathing millions of universes emanate and into whom they are again withdrawn, may be accepted as the Lord of the universe. Garbhodakasayi Visnu, from whose abdomen sprouted the lotus flower which is the birthplace of Brahma, may also be considered the Lord of the universe. Similarly, Ksirodakasayi Visnu, who is the Supersoul of all living entities, may also be considered the Lord of the universe. Then, under the order of Ksirodakasayi Visnu, the Visnu form within this universe, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva may also be accepted as the Lords of the universe.

Visnu is the Lord of the universe because He is its maintainer. Similarly, Brahma creates the different planetary systems and the population, so he also may be considered the Lord of the universe. Or Lord Siva, who is ultimately the destroyer of the universe, also may be considered its Lord. Therefore, since Atri Muni did not specifically mention whom he wanted, all three—Brahma, Visnu and Lord Siva—came before him. They said, “Since you were thinking of having a son exactly like the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord of the universe, your determination will be fulfilled.” In other words, one’s determination is fulfilled according to the strength of one’s devotion. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (9.25): yanti deva-vrata devan pitrn yanti pitr-vratah. If one is attached to a particular demigod, one is promoted to the abode of that demigod; if one is attached to the Pitas, or forefathers, one is promoted to their planet; and similarly if one is attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, one is promoted to the abode of Lord Krsna. Atri Muni had no clear conception of the Lord of the universe; therefore the three presiding deities who are actually the lords of the universe in the three departments of the modes of nature all came before him. Now, according to the strength of his determination for a son, his desire would be fulfilled by the grace of the Lord.

SB4.1.31

TEXT 31

athasmad-amsa-bhutas te

atmaja loka-visrutah

bhavitaro ’nga bhadram te

visrapsyanti ca te yasah

SYNONYMS

atha—therefore; asmat—our; amsa-bhutah—plenary expansions; te—your; atmajah—sons; loka-visrutah—very famous in the world; bhavitarah—in the future will be born; anga—dear great sage; bhadram—all good fortune; te—unto you; visrapsyanti—will spread; ca—also; te—your; yasah—reputation.

TRANSLATION

You will have sons who will represent a partial manifestation of our potency, and because we desire all good fortune for you, those sons will glorify your reputation throughout the world.

SB4.1.32

TEXT 32

evam kama-varam dattva

pratijagmuh suresvarah

sabhajitas tayoh samyag

dampatyor misatos tatah

SYNONYMS

evam—thus; kama-varam—desired benediction; dattva—offering; pratijagmuh—returned; sura-isvarah—the chief demigods; sabhajitah—being worshiped; tayoh—while they; samyak—perfectly; dampatyoh—the husband and wife; misatoh—were looking on; tatah—from there.

TRANSLATION

Thus, while the couple looked on, the three deities Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara disappeared from that place after bestowing upon Atri Muni the benediction.

SB4.1.33

TEXT 33

somo ’bhud brahmano ’msena

datto visnos tu yogavit

durvasah sankarasyamso

nibodhangirasah prajah

SYNONYMS

somah—the king of the moon planet; abhut—appeared; brahmanah—of Lord Brahma; amsena—partial expansion; dattah—Dattatreya; visnoh—of Visnu; tu—but; yoga-vit—very powerful yogi; durvasah—Durvasa; sankarasya amsah—partial expansion of Lord Siva; nibodha—just try to understand; angirasah—of the great sage Angira; prajah—generations.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, from the partial representation of Brahma, the moon-god was born of them; from the partial representation of Visnu, the great mystic Dattatreya was born; and from the partial representation of Sankara [Lord Siva], Durvasa was born. Now you may hear from me of the many sons of Angira.

SB4.1.34

TEXT 34

sraddha tv angirasah patni

catasro ’suta kanyakah

sinivali kuhu raka

caturthy anumatis tatha

SYNONYMS

sraddha—Sraddha; tu—but; angirasah—of Angira Rsi; patni—wife; catasrah—four; asuta—gave birth; kanyakah—daughters; sinivali—Sinivali; kuhuh—Kuhu; raka—Raka; caturthi—the fourth one; anumatih—Anumati; tatha—also.

TRANSLATION

Angira’s wife, Sraddha, gave birth to four daughters, named Sinivali, Kuhu, Raka and Anumati.

SB4.1.35

TEXT 35

tat-putrav aparav astam

khyatau svarocise ’ntare

utathyo bhagavan saksad

brahmisthas ca brhaspatih

SYNONYMS

tat—his; putrau—sons; aparau—others; astam—were born; khyatau—very famous; svarocise—in the Svarocisa millennium; antare—of the Manu; utathyah—Utathya; bhagavan—very mighty; saksat—directly; brahmisthah ca—fully spiritually advanced; brhaspatih—Brhaspati.

TRANSLATION

Besides these four daughters, she also had another two sons. One of them was known as Utathya, and the other was the learned scholar Brhaspati.

SB4.1.36

TEXT 36

pulastyo ’janayat patnyam

agastyam ca havirbhuvi

so ’nya-janmani dahragnir

visravas ca maha-tapah

SYNONYMS

pulastyah—the sage Pulastya; ajanayat—begot; patnyam—in his wife; agastyam—the great sage Agastya; ca—also; havirbhuvi—in Havirbhu; sah—he (Agastya); anya-janmani—in the next birth; dahra-agnih—the digesting fire; visravah—Visrava; ca—and; maha-tapah—greatly powerful because of austerity.

TRANSLATION

Pulastya begot in his wife, Havirbhu, one son of the name Agastya, who in his next birth became Dahragni. Besides him, Pulastya begot another very great and saintly son, whose name was Visrava.

SB4.1.37

TEXT 37

tasya yaksa-patir devah

kuberas tv idavida-sutah

ravanah kumbhakarnas ca

tathanyasyam vibhisanah

SYNONYMS

tasya—his; yaksa-patih—the king of the Yaksas; devah—demigod; kuberah—Kuvera; tu—and; idavida—of Idavida; sutah—son; ravanah—Ravana; kumbhakarnah—Kumbhakarna; ca—also; tatha—so; anyasyam—in the other; vibhisanah—Vibhisana.

TRANSLATION

Visrava had two wives. The first wife was Idavida, from whom Kuvera, the master of all Yaksas, was born, and the next wife was named Kesini, from whom three sons were born—Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Vibhisana.

SB4.1.38

TEXT 38

pulahasya gatir bharya

trin asuta sati sutan

karmasrestham variyamsam

sahisnum ca maha-mate

SYNONYMS

pulahasya—of Pulaha; gatih—Gati; bharya—wife; trin—three; asuta—gave birth; sati—chaste; sutan—sons; karma-srestham—very expert in fruitive activities; variyamsam—very respectable; sahisnum—very tolerant; ca—also; maha-mate—O great Vidura.

TRANSLATION

Gati, the wife of the sage Pulaha, gave birth to three sons, named Karmasrestha, Variyan and Sahisnu, and all of them were great sages.

PURPORT

Gati, the wife of Pulaha, was the fifth daughter of Kardama Muni. She was very faithful to her husband, and all her sons were as good as he.

SB4.1.39

TEXT 39

krator api kriya bharya

valakhilyan asuyata

rsin sasti-sahasrani

jvalato brahma-tejasa

SYNONYMS

kratoh—of the great sage Kratu; api—also; kriya—Kriya; bharya—wife; valakhilyan—just like Valakhilya; asuyata—begot; rsin—sages; sasti—sixty; sahasrani—thousand; jvalatah—very brilliant; brahma-tejasa—by dint of the Brahman effulgence.

TRANSLATION

Kratu’s wife, Kriya, gave birth to sixty thousand great sages, named the Valakhilyas. All these sages were greatly advanced in spiritual knowledge, and their bodies were illuminated by such knowledge.

PURPORT

Kriya was the sixth daughter of Kardama Muni, and she produced sixty thousand sages, who were known as the Valakhilyas because they all retired from family life as vanaprasthas.

Next verse (SB4.1.40)